Lovest Thou Me More Than These? (John 21:15)

By Sidne O'Reilly

O.K, so I have twenty pounds to loose. Ugh! At my stage in life it takes more effort to accomplish what I thought was difficult before. Actually it is not as much the pounds that are a problem but what they are made of and where they are located. In doing research for my Spiritually Based Sustainable Healthy Lifestyle Program, I have come to learn that the biggest danger is not how much you tip the scales. Rather the size of your waistline is the greater indicator of health or the lack there of. A large waistline can put you in increased danger of getting:

“Heart disease
Breast cancer
Diabetes
Metabolic syndrome
Gallbladder problems
High blood pressure
Colorectal cancer “

By Mayo Clinic Staff, Apr 16, 2007, Mayo Clinic.com, Women’s Health, Belly Fat How to Keep it Off. http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/belly-fat/WO00128, (Accessed 05/22/08)

Even knowing that is sometimes not enough motivation to make the necessary changes. People are stopped from change by two scenarios:

1. The reasons for change are not important to them
2. They don’t have the confidence, knowledge or skill it takes to make the change.

So in the interest of self-motivation, what is important to me about making the necessary changes to create a spiritually based, sustainable healthy lifestyle?

In D&C 138, it talks about the spirits in paradise waiting to reunite their spirits and their bodies.How they seemed to long to have their bodies back. Do you get the same impression I did? D&C 138:15-17
15 I beheld that they were filled with joy and gladness, and were rejoicing together because the day of their deliverance was at hand.
16 They were assembled awaiting the advent of the Son of God into the spirit world, to declare their redemption from the bands of death.
17 Their sleeping dust was to be restored unto its perfect frame, bone to his bone, and the sinews and the flesh upon them, the spirit and the body to be united never again to be divided, that they might receive a fullness of joy. That they might receive a fullness of joy! So a fullness of joy is possible when the body and the spirit are united? How interesting. Yes, I believe that is true. It is with a healthy body I can complete my purpose here. How I long to do that. How I desire to be with my children and grandchildren as long as possible. How I want to be an influence for good and not a burden because of my poor health habits. I wish to be an instrument in the hands of the Lord as long as I possibly can.

I guess the real question is, “Lovest thou me more than these?” More than enticing food, more than the desire not to exercise? Do I love the Lord more than my lack of desire to figure out how to live the Word or Wisdom more completely? Can I live counter to the culture and eat foods that will promote my health even in public? Do I desire for my life to end on the Lord’s timetable or on the premature timetable that I set by going with the flow?

Is my desire to fulfill my purpose here on earth strong enough to make the needed changes? I have to answer with an unequivocal yes! A resounding yes! Will it be easy? Will I be perfect at it? Certainly not. I will need all the support I can get from my Heavenly Father. One thing I do know, I must prove by my actions that I love the Lord and what he has given me to do more than all of “these.”

I am cheering for you!